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To: tacticalogic; Alamo-Girl; metmom; hosepipe
...whether it is a measurable quantity or not is irrelevant to it being indespensable. So what's the problem?

The problem is: What is it about mathematics that makes it indispensable and moreover trustworthy?

Perhaps you might find a question like this tiresome, or even irrelevant tacticalogic.

I have a good rule that I follow, called the "Five Whys." It basically says that you have to ask the question, "Why?" five times before you can get to the root of any problem. And that's where you'll likely find its logical foundation.

It's only a "rule of thumb." But I find it an eminently useful one.

Does this make any sense to you?

807 posted on 01/06/2009 1:28:35 PM PST by betty boop
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To: betty boop
Why is that a problem?

My original statement was the common denominator among the things everyone agrees on is that they have objectively observable, and empirically measurable qualities.

You subscribe to one particular philosophy of mathematics, while other people subscribe to another. There is disagreement on which is best. Mathematics does not have objectivelhy observable and empirically measurable qualities. This is consistent with my original assertion.

There was no reference to, or implication of the "trustworhtyness" of mathematics.

Why am I getting dragged off on this tangent?

813 posted on 01/06/2009 2:43:27 PM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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